Local author releases book about raid, other county history
Staff writer
A Marion author’s new book touching on the 2023 raid of the Marion County Record and two homes is now available for purchase.
Thane Schwartz’s eighth book, “Marion, the Media, and the Morons: Project 2025 Assault on Democracy,” can be ordered on Amazon now and should be in distribution Thursday.
Schwartz said his book spans from the 1850s to the current day and looks at the direction of the Trump administration’s plans for Project 2025.
Last August, he was writing a book about an Indian boy with Down syndrome living at the Kaw Mission when information on Project 2025 came out.
In the 19th century, the doctrine of manifest destiny was used to take land from Native Americans.
He sees Project 2025 as a process of using intimidation to get what Republicans want, just as manifest destiny was used to get what European settlers wanted from Native Americans.
Schwartz said that when he learned about Project 2025, he thought “Trump’s going to win.” He also thought he needed to get ahead of Project 2025, so he started writing about it.
“Intimidation keeps people quiet,” Schwartz said. “I think if everybody holds tight, it’s going to be all right.”
Intimidation was the angle that was used to get police to raid the newspaper, Schwartz said.
The raid was an example of Project 2025 on a local level, he said.
“I think when you read the book, you’re going to start out almost hating some characters,” he said. “I think when they went into this, they didn’t think someone was going to lose her life — they wouldn’t do this, or would do it differently.”
Schwartz said the book could be viewed as political satire.
“The cruelty of Project 2025 first came to the Flint Hills of Kansas in the 1840s; when the westward expansion and the concept of manifest destiny bestowed itself upon the Native Americans in the name of God; and in a not so pleasant way,” an Amazon synopsis of the book says.
“And now we see a resurgence of that cruelty; brought about by a people upon their neighbors of different political and cultural views ... and mandated by a power with an evil intent. This is the story of that people in their attempt to dismantle the God given rights of those who live on the margins, and those who speak up on their behalf.
“And you think that it couldn’t happen in your small town? Think again! Just ask the folks at the newspaper in little ole Marion, Kansas. A story that you’ll never forget ... or may want to.”
Schwartz’s other books include:
- “The Adventures of Boo Boo and Little Mouse: Lessons in Courage.”
- “Soul Soup for Chickens: This Ain’t Chicken Soup.”
- “The Things I Found in My Cedar Chest.”
- “The Perch at Dalton Pond: A Novel about Dementia, Family, Power and Forgiveness.”
- “The Lord of the Lies.”
- “Paper Wolves: The Gaza Files.”
- “Borehead’s Drift.”